120mm aio with lcd display free sample

2023-01-03 12:32:11

An all-in-one (AIO) liquid cooler not only ensures quieter cooling than a traditional air cooler, but it might even lower temperatures enough to let you overclock further. AIOs are a super simple way to water-cool your PC without any mess or the headache of choosing components. We also recommend investing in a liquid cooler if you have or are planning to buy a high-performance processor like the new Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD"s Ryzen 7950x.

Most builds call for a 240mm AIO. To that end, we recommend the Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite, thanks to its solid software integration, excellent included fans, and good price tag. You can jump up or down depending on your PC build size or cooling needs, too, with various options available.

Note: Before diving in, you"ll need to take note of your CPU socket before picking up an AIO water cooler. Every CPU cooler is a little different, so you"ll need to know what CPU socket your motherboard has to see if the cooler supports it.

The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite is a minor update to the H100i RGB Pro XT, which has been our top recommendation for a while. It features an updated pump design with 16 RGB LEDs, and thanks to iCUE, you can sync up all of your various RGB accessories for a unified look inside your build. The software also allows you to check on your CPU and coolant temperature to make sure everything is running smoothly.

In addition to a 240mm radiator, the kit comes with Corsair"s new AF Elite fans. These are high-performance 120mm PWM fluid dynamic bearing fans that combine a low-noise design with the company"s "AirGuide" technology for powerful cooling, quiet operation, and exceptional durability. They also support Zero RPM and Variable Pump Speed specialized cooling modes in iCUE to keep noise to a minimum when your system is idle or under light loads.

The Corsair iCUE H100i RGB Elite is an easy AIO to recommend. The company is behind some of the best desktop CPU coolers, and the cooler clocks in at about $140. Socket support is excellent, too, with mounting options for all recent Intel and AMD processors, including Threadripper.

When it comes to raw thermal performance, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II is the best 360mm AIO cooler on the market. It reaches similar performance to competing coolers from NZXT and Corsair while being very inexpensive. Currently selling for about $130, the price is comparable to and in some cases lesser than most competitive 360mm AIO coolers out there.

The pump on the AIO is controlled by PWM, allowing it to modulate with the workload rather than run at full speed all the time. The Liquid Freezer II also includes a 40 mm fan next to the pump, set to sit over your motherboard"s VRM chips. In more extreme overclocking sessions, this may improve stability. Otherwise, it includes three Arctic 120 mm fans to keep air flowing.

This cooler is all about performance and price. It gets those two bits right, but not without some concessions. It doesn"t feature any sort of lighting, and the design may not be to everyone"s tastes. Still, the Arctic Liquid Freezer II hits a sweet spot that other coolers can"t compete with. Socket support is a little limited, but the Liquid Freezer still supports most recent chips. On AMD, it supports AM4 CPUs, and on Intel, it supports all LGA115x sockets, as well as 2011-3 and 2066 with a square Independent Loading Mechanism (ILM).

NZXT"s third-generation Kraken X coolers are well worth the asking prices. The cooler is now available in an all-white finish with two 120mm Aer RGB 2 fans making it perfect for your next white PC build. This 240mm model clocks in at around $145, which still isn"t too expensive. The design is much more appealing than Arctic"s offering while achieving similar levels of thermal performance.

For looks, the Kraken X"s infinity mirror pump cap is a showstopper. It bounces light around inside the cap to create the illusion of infinite LED rings. Like nearly all NZXT products, the Kraken X53 is fully integrated with CAM, allowing you to monitor temperatures and tweak your lighting settings. Over the X52, the X53 also includes an NZXT Hue 2 connection on the pump, offering power for up to six Hue 2 accessories. If you want to trick out your rig with synced-up RGB, the NZXT Kraken X53 is for you.

Socket support is excellent, with support for TR4 and AM4 on AMD, and LGA115X, 1700, and 1,200 on Intel. NZXT rates the Kraken X53 for six years of continuous use — 60,000 hours, technically — which is around what we"d expect for most AIO coolers. NZXT offers a six-year warranty, though, so you"re covered from any defects for the rated life of the cooler.

120 mm AIOs usually aren"t very good, but the Corsair H80i v2 is the best 120 mm AIO around. Without proper surface area on the radiator, most 120 mm coolers just aren"t up to snuff when it comes to cooling power. The Corsair H80i v2 solves that problem. The radiator is twice as thick, clocking in at 49mm compared to the standard 25mm. The H80i v2 doesn"t match the cooling performance of a 240mm radiator, but it gets a lot closer than a standard 120 mm one.

As for support, the Corsair H80i v2 comes with Intel mounting hardware for socket 1366 up to LGA1200 (Intel"s redesign of LGA1151, designed for Comet Lake CPUs). Basically, if you have an Intel processor introduced after 2008, you"re fine. AMD support is a little sparser. The cooler technically supports AM2 up to AM4, but the box only ships with mounting hardware for up to AM3. You"ll need a separate AM4 bracket. Thankfully, Corsair sells them for only a few dollars. There"s no RGB on this one, either, though you can control fan speed and monitor temperatures through Corsair"s iCUE software.

Cooler Master offers a range of "lite" AIOs, which are basically previous iterations of Cooler Master"s MasterLiquid line with increased socket support and double FEP tubing. At around $85, the Cooler Master ML240L v2 is the best budget AIO available. It comes with a 240mm radiator, two RGB fans, and a small RGB controller. Thermal performance isn"t great, and the noise level is higher than some more costly options. However, the ML240L clocks in around $50 cheaper than most competing 240mm AIOs. Plus, you can always swap the fans out later for more lighting options and slightly better noise levels.

The Cooler Master ML240L comes with nearly universal socket support, too. On Intel, it supports LGA1200, LGA20xx, LGA115x, and LGA1366, and on AMD, it supports AM2 to AM4, as well as FM2 and FM1. For the price, it"s hard to beat the ML240L.

If you want the best RGB AIO cooler, the EK-AIO 240 D-RGB goes off the deep end. Short of a small black strip where the tubes connect, the mounting block has a translucent, slightly diffused surface, washing out the lights inside into a beautiful display of color. EK is the place for custom water cooling, and the EK-AIO 240 shows why.

The EK-AIO 240 is a better option due to the fact that it"s inexpensive. Selling for about $125, it"s similarly priced as the 240mm counterpart at NZXT, as well as Corsair’s H100i. But you can get is for about $108 on EK"s own website. Like a lot of the other options on this list, it’s available in 120mm and 360mm variants, too. On Intel, the EK-AIO 240 supports LGA115x and LGA20xx, and LGA1200. On AMD, it just includes an AM4 bracket. You can control the fans directly through your motherboard, but if you’re short on spots, you can pick up an EK-Loop Connect controller for another six PWM connections.

This is Corsair"s first all-in-one liquid cooler with a built-in LCD on the pump block. The iCUE H100i Elite LCD is a step beyond the older H100i RGB Pro XT and an excellent choice if you care about RGB lighting and customizations. The bright 2.1-inch panel comes with a 480x480 resolution making it sharper than most AIO LCD displays. It can be used to showcase a variety of things including system temperatures, custom artwork, GIFs, videos, and more. This can be done with Corsair"s iCUE software which also offers additional information about the cooler.

The AIO comes with two 120mm Corsair ML RGB ELITE magnetic levitation fans for great cooling performance while maintaining quiet operation. There is also support for a zero-RPM cooling profile that allows the fans to stop entirely at low temperatures thus eliminating any fan noise. Expect excellent thermal performance thanks to the custom cold plate that features a high-density stack of 128 micro-skived fins per inch providing highly efficient cooling.

Apart from the 240mm option, the Corsair Elite LCD AIO is also available in 360mm and 420mm configurations and there is support for all modern CPU sockets including the latest Intel LGA 1700 and AMD"s upcoming AM5.

The Alphacool Eisbaer Aurora is a CPU cooler that you can refill. Unlike other AIO liquid coolers, you can swap out the fluid, upgrade the hoses and fittings, and even expand the loop. The most recent model supports digital RGB on the fans and CPU block, too, allowing you to trick out your lighting however you want.

The looks are right, but Alphacool didn"t sacrifice thermals with the Eisbaer Aurora. The radiator is made out of copper for a little extra cooling potential, and the nickel-plated copper CPU block has been slightly enlarged compared to previous versions. For CPU support, the Eisbaer Aurora supports most modern processors, though it doesn"t officially support Threadripper chips.

The most important part of an AIO CPU cooler is the radiator size. A larger radiator offers better cooling performance, but you need to make sure it can fit inside your case. Otherwise, look at the socket support to make sure you can use the cooler with your motherboard and buy from a reputable brand.

Most AIO coolers have a lifespan of six years, regardless of if they have RGB or not. You can expect an AIO cooler from a reputable brand to run for six years without issues, but every cooler is a little different. We recommend looking up individual AIO cooler reviews to see if others have had issues with reliability.

Before buying an AIO cooler, you need to know about the risks it may pose to your PC. Although failures are few and far between, every AIO cooler is still putting water dangerously close to your precious PC components, so there"s always a risk that the cooler could leak or fail and damage your parts. The fact that AIO coolers are closed makes matters worse because you can"t open the loop to see if there are any problems.

In a typical setup, yes, liquid cooling is simply better at capturing and dissipating heat than an air cooling system alone — however, they aren"t necessarily better than the best air coolers. AIO coolers are a popular option to add liquid cooling because they offer the whole cooling system in a premade package that"s relatively easy to set up, and they tend to be very quiet.

That being said, AIO coolers may not be the best choice for every gaming station. As we mentioned above, not all PC cases have a lot of room to add a radiator, pump, and tubing. If you aren"t interested in overclocking and your current system manages temperatures just fine, you may not see a lot of benefit from switching to an AIO cooler, either.

That depends on several factors. The pump that moves the liquid in the cooler is typically silent or at least inconsequential compared to other PC noises. AIO models usually have fans, which will get noisy if they operate at high speed or are dirty. You can decrease fan noise by keeping them free of dust and monitoring their settings via the BIOS if possible. The good news is that, with liquid cooling, fans usually don"t have to work as hard and are less likely to make lots of noise.

Another source of noise can be gurgling from the liquid as it flows, especially at higher pump speeds. If your AIO cooler is chilling your PC just fine at lower pump speeds, you can easily keep noise levels down this way. If annoying gurgling noises persist, there could be air cycling in the system. Proper installation and pump placement can often help avoid bubbling issues like this, so it may be time to take a look at your mounting choices. You can also run the cooler through a process to clear out air bubbles.

If this is your first time installing an AIO model, you should find and follow a guide closely or use the included instructions and pay attention to the details. Corsair has a clear-cut guide on the two most effective mounting choices for the radiator (on the front or at the top of the case). The radiator should be at a higher position than the pump to help avoid air bubble problems, which means you don"t want to install it at the bottom of the case.

120mm aio with lcd display free sample

We’ve covered the best 360mm AIOs, 280mm AIOs, and 240mm AIOs and today, we’re taking a look at the 120mm AIO market. Unlike the large coolers, 120mm AIOs don’t really provide that much more cooling performance than high-end air CPU coolers. However, they do still provide more cooling performance than stock coolers and they bring better aesthetics to the table, too. And, they also work well in small form factor builds as well.

So, if you’re looking to build a budget gaming PC or a mini gaming PC and you’re looking for an affordable 120mm AIO cooler to go in it, this guide will help you find a solid option. We’ve made selections for our favorite 120mm AIO overall, a runner-up selection, the top 120mm AIO with an RGB fan, a white 120mm AIO, and the cheapest 120mm AIO currently available.

While we have chosen a Corsair iCUE cooler for our top 360mm, 280mm, and 240mm AIOs, in the 120mm we like the NZXT Kraken M22 a bit better. Its Aer P fan can hit a higher max speed than the fan on the Corsair H60. The M22 also operates a bit more quietly than the H60 and it comes with a longer six-year warranty (versus five-years for the H60.)

The M22 is compatible with both AMD and Intel processors, it comes with RGB lighting on the pump head, and it will work perfectly in a mini-ITX gaming PC build.

Corsair’s H60 is another solid 120mm AIO worth considering. It comes in at the same price as the Kraken M22 and, for the most part, it will deliver similar cooling performance.

The H60s fan can’t hit quite as high of max speeds as the Kraken M22, though (2000 RPM for the M22 and 1700 for the H60.) The Kraken M22 also comes with a slightly longer six-year warranty, versus the H60s five-year warranty. Although, both of those are impressively long warranty periods and, in the grand scheme of things, most builders would have upgraded their coolers within that timeframe anyways.

The other potential downside of the Corsair H60 is its black and white design. While it doesn’t look bad by any means, its aesthetics may not mesh well with certain builds. On the other hand, the Kraken M22’s all-black design offers a neutral color scheme that will go together better with a wider range of styles and color schemes. Ultimately, both 120mm coolers are excellent options for the price they come in at and the performance they offer. But, at the same price point, we’d opt for the Kraken M22 over the Corsair H60.

If you’re looking for a small 120mm AIO cooler as well as some RGB lighting to add to your build, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120L might be your best bet. In fact, the MasterLiquid ML120L might be the best option on this list considering what you get versus what you pay.

At just a little over ~$60, it is the second cheapest 120mm AIO cooler on this list. And, you still get an RGB-lit fan, an RGB-lit pump head, and a fan that can hit max speeds of up to 1800 RPM. The MasterLiquid ML120L is fairly quiet, too, with fan noise levels ranging from 8-27 dBA.

It may not quite match the performance of the NZXT Kraken M22, but the difference probably won’t be noticeable. So, if you want to save a little bit of money and get some more RGB lights into your build, the Cooler Master MasterLiquid ML120L is probably the best 120mm AIO for you.

If you’re building inside of a white PC case and you want a white 120mm AIO to pair with it, you might want to consider DEEPCOOL’s CAPTAIN 120EX. It does have some black mixed into the aesthetics (on the fan blade and the pump hose), but it is one of the only 120mm AIOs that offers a mostly white design.

In terms of performance, it will offer cooling on par with the other options on this list. Its fans can hit a max speed of 1800 RPM and it operates within a noise level range of between 18-31 dBA. Unfortunately, though, there isn’t any RGB lighting on this AIO.

For those of you that need a small AIO cooler, but you don’t have a huge budget to get one, the EVGA CLC 120 is the cheapest 120mm AIO currently available. At just a little over ~$55 it is incredibly affordable and can easily be worked into an budget PC build (check out our $800 gaming PC build.)

At such a low price, though, you shouldn’t expect top-tier cooling. In fact, you could probably get better cooling from a similarly-priced air cooler. However, if you want the more minimalistic design of an AIO cooler, this will do the trick.

It should also be pointed out that the EVGA CLC 120 is onlycompatible with Intel processors. So, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly 120mm AIO cooler for an AMD processor, you’ll want to check out some of the other options listed above.

Right now, the best 120mm AIO cooler is the NZXT Kraken M22 or the Corsair iCUE H60. Although, if you’re working with a smaller budget, the EVG CLC 120 is an excellent budget 120mm AIO cooler.

While 120mm AIOs aren’t going to bring extreme performance to the table, they will offer decent cooling performance for a somewhat affordable price. And, for many, the aesthetics of AIO coolers make them a popular option.

In this guide, we chose five different 120mm AIO coolers across a range of categories and pricepoints to help you find the right option for your needs. So, if you’re in the market for a new budget-friendly CPU cooler, check out our recommendations above.

120mm aio with lcd display free sample

EK 360mm AIO Basic, All-in-One Liquid CPU Cooler with EK-Vardar High-Performance PMW Fans, Water Cooling Computer Parts, 120mm Fan, Intel 115X/1200/2066, AMD AM4, (360mm AIO) LGA 1700 ReadyType: Liquid Cooling System

NZXT Kraken 120 - RL-KR120-B1 - AIO RGB CPU Liquid Cooler - Quiet and Effective - Silent Operation - Ring RGB LEDs - AER P 120mm Radiator Fans (Included)Type: Liquid Cooling System

NZXT Kraken X53 240mm - RL-KRX53-01 - AIO RGB CPU Liquid Cooler - Rotating Infinity Mirror Design - Powered By CAM V4 - RGB Connector - 2 x Aer P120 120mm Radiator Fans LGA 1700 CompatibleType: Liquid Cooling System

ASUS ROG Ryujin II 360 RGB all-in-one liquid CPU cooler 360mm Radiator (3.5" color LCD, 3x Noctua iPPC 2000 PWM 120mm radiator fans, compatible with Intel LGA1700, 1200 and AM4 socket)

MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R V2 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 240mm Radiator, Dual PWM, ARGB Lighting Controlled by Software LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 CompatibleType: Liquid Cooling System

Rosewill RGB AIO 240mm CPU Liquid Cooler, Closed Loop PC Water Cooling, Slim Copper Plate, Quiet Addressable RGB Ring Fans, Remote Control, Intel/AMD Compatible, 400mm Sleeved Tubing - PB240-RGBType: Liquid Cooling System

MSI MAG Core Liquid 240R V2 White AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 240mm Radiator, Dual 120mm PWN Fans, ARGB lighting controled by software LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 CompatibleType: Liquid Cooling System

MSI MAG Core Liquid 360R V2 AIO Liquid CPU Cooler, 360mm Radiator, Triple PWM, ARGB Lighting Controlled by Software LGA 1700 Ready / AM5 CompatibleType: Liquid Cooling System

EK 360mm AIO Elite, D-RGB All-in-One Liquid CPU Cooler with EK-Vardar High-Performance PMW Fans, Water Cooling Computer Parts, 120mm Fan, Intel 115X/1200/2066, AMD AM4, (360mm AIO) LGA 1700 ReadyType: Liquid Cooling System

120mm aio with lcd display free sample

So you’ve finally done it. You’ve built your gaming system from the ground up, incorporating the latest and greatest CPUs and GPUs from the likes of Intel and AMD. The best PC casings, motherboards, RAM, PSUs, you have it all. Alas, you still haven’t decided on your cooling system or as we reckon Best 120mm AIO Liquid Cooler. You’re knowledgeable enough to know there’s no use for all the fancy tech you’re putting together if you don’t possess a decent cooling solution. However, there is nothing to worry about since this is precisely where we come in.

Perhaps you’re unable to make your mind as to whether you should purchase a high-performance air cooler from the likes of industry-leading manufacturers such as Noctua or BeQuiet!. Alternatively, it might be time to splurge on anAll-in-One (AIO) water cooling solution for enhanced cooling performance. An AIO cooler utilizes both air in the form of a fan and liquid combined with a radiator and water pump to cool down your CPU and surrounding PC components. Some AIOs even have dedicated fans which strive to keep your motherboard’s VRMs (Voltage Regulator Module) cool, ultimately paving the way for optimal gaming performance.

Back to where we started – since this might be your first time entering the AIO club, or you just want to save some capital and use it elsewhere, investing in a 120mm AIO would be a very sensible option. If you agree with us, you’re in luck because we have gone through meticulous research, in-depth analytics, and reviews, to present our handpicked list of the Best 120mm AIO coolers suited to each of your requirements.

The name ofArctic is synonymous with top-of-the-line performance. For our first and best pick amongst the bunch, we’ll be starting off hot with the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120, which is Arctic’s entry-level AIO, part of their extensive Liquid Freezer II AIO Series. The Liquid Freezer II Series is known worldwide for having the most high-performance AIOs amongst the entire industry whilst maintaining a stellar price-to-performance ratio. We’ll be inspecting the 120mm variant in deeper detail, which attempts to lure away gamers from air coolers into the world of liquid cooling at a reasonable price.

To begin with, Arctic has implemented the same in-house developed PWM pump, found in the larger 240 and280mm AIO variants as well, with the pump being automatically or manually controllable between 800-2000 RPM. Arctic has designed the pump such that humming has been majorly reduced while maintaining high efficiency. Combined, this contributes to a lower noise level and decreased power consumption, with the Liquid Freezer II 120 sipping between 0.7W-3.4W for the entire AIO unit depending upon your workload. Even so, the Liquid Freezer II 120 can handle a CPU possessing a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of more than 200W, meaning you could moderately overclock your CPU without worrying whether it’ll burn down to ashes. The Liquid Freezer II 120 accomplishes all of this while keeping sound levels below 25 dB, even under the most extreme conditions.

Moving on, Arctic is utilizing a state-of-the-art 38mm thick radiator (as compared to conventional 28mm thick radiators from rivals) with a high fin density. Thanks to the increased thickness and fin density, a more significant amount of coolant can be used in the circuit, which, in turn, significantly increases the cooling surface area.

In the fan department, Arctic has paired the premium radiator with a single P-12 fan, which has left its mark on the performance charts. The fan is PWM controlled, meaning your motherboard can automatically regulate your fan speeds following your workloads, easing the burden on your shoulder. However, should you wish to manually tweak the speeds, the fan may be set to any speed ranging between 200-1800 RPM. The P-12 uses a fluid dynamic bearing to produce a maximum airflow of 55.6 CFM, simultaneously minimising vibrations while maintaining a high static pressure of 2.2mm H2O for enhanced cooling performance.

One of the main highlights of the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120mm AIO is the embedded 40mm VRM fan Arctic has added on top of the pump, dedicated to cooling down the VRMs (Voltage Regulator Module) on your motherboard by up to 15C, increasing the amount of overclocking headroom available while also extending componential longevity. Arctic assures us that the fan is as capable as any other despite its tiny size, even going as far so as to promise a free replacement for the VRM fan in the unlikely event it fails to work. Of course, this fan is PWM enabled as well, meaning that the pump and both your fans, all of them can be automatically regulated via your motherboard for your convenience.

For transferring the coolant, Arctic has blessed the Liquid Freezer II 120 with fiber-reinforced, 350mm long, high-quality EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) tubing, with the main benefits of using EPDM tubing being increased longevity and additional durability. It also prevents the coolant from evaporating so that you don’t have to worry about refilling the compact water cooling system, making the whole experience maintenance-free. However, we feel compelled to mention that while the thick tubes (12.4mm) may deceive you, the actual inner diameter where the water flows is just 6mm thick, making it an optimal gimmick of sorts.

In addition, it also hides the cables of your radiator and fans, only requiring you to connect a plug to the mainboard for a user-friendly installation. Everything can be run over a single PWM header, resulting in some very well-thought-out cable management, reducing your view to just the essentials. That being said, you might face a few problems if you try to install the Liquid Freezer II 120mm AIO in big PC cases, as the tubing ends up leaving you asking for more.

With regards to installation, we’re happy to report Arctic has kept it simple. First off, the mounting rails must be attached to the water block. Moving ahead, for Intel users, the usual procedure will be followed where the backplate is placed behind the motherboard, fixing it with the standoffs marked for the complimentary CPU socket. The water block will be placed on top of the CPU, after which you just need to screw it down with the provided thumbscrews, and you’ll be good to go. Don’t forget to use some of the Arctic MX-4 thermal paste you get bundled along in the package. While we feel this is nit-picky, we would’ve loved for Arctic to step up the game by providing its industry-leading MX-5 thermal paste.

As far as AMD users are concerned, the installation used to be tricky on previous occasions since the water block used to interfere with motherboard components placed around the CPU socket. However, Arctic is now including an AMD offset bracket. For installing the Liquid Freezer II 120mm AIO on an AMD CPU, you can re-use the original backplate that came with your processor. Just place the provided standoffs on the cooler’s screw-holes, and situate the AMD off-set bracket on top. At this stage, you’ll have the option to choose between two different mounting options, one which slightly offsets the CPU to the bottom, providing additional clearance for any components installed at the top, which is a highly commendable move from Arctic.

Arctic rounds off the Liquid Freezer II 120 with a 6-year warranty, going as far as promising a 10-year lifespan for the 120mm P-12 fan, if not the entire unit.

There’s a lot to love about the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120. The 40mm embedded VRM fan, paired with the P-12 fan and the 38mm thick radiator alongside the EPDM tubing, paves the way for best-in-class cooling performance with ample overclocking headroom. The Liquid Freezer II 120 struggles to be audible even under the most trying conditions, making for a genuinely silent cooling experience. It offers excellent cable management because the entire AIO can be run over a single PWM header.

Arctic goes above and beyond with their after-sales services, promising you a free replacement for the 40mm VRM fan should it ever fail while also standing by the entire AIO unit with a 6-year warranty.

The installation process is easy for beginners to follow, with Arctic providing an offset mounting option for AMD users for even better clearance. Last but not least, the Liquid Freezer II 120mm AIO manages to do it all and still be priced very competitively.

First off, the RGB enthusiasts in our audience will be stumped to hear that the Liquid Freezer II 120 doesn’t offer any RGB lighting. It’s gone for an all-black stealthy look, which might appeal to your monochrome aesthetic, but may also look slightly childish with the weird aggressive slopes, slants and curves. With respect to the easy-going installation, it would’ve been convenient if Arctic had included the user manuals in the packaging, instead of forcing users to visit their website to view the user manuals for instructions and guidelines.

Let’s assume you have a miniature or medium-sized PC. If you can forgive the absence of RGB, there’s absolutely no reason to look further than the Liquid Freezer II 120. Arctic has a winner on its hand, offering top-of-the-line cooling performance at virtually inaudible sound levels, incorporated within a maintenance-free closed loop. You’re even allotted decent room for overclocking, should you feel the urge to ramp up your CPU settings. Backed up by Arctic’s reputed warranty and comprehensive after-sales support, we think you’ll get the gist about what’s to follow.

Giving you the best bang for your buck, we’re happy to announce that the Arctic Liquid Freezer II 120 officially takes the crown as the Best 120mm AIO Liquid Coolerin 2022, joining its larger siblings who have multiple awards of their own, thanks to Arctic’s stellar in-house machinery, design, performance and warranty.

Enermax has been throwing out PC peripherals, including PSUs, casings, and coolers (AIOs specifically), amongst various PC components. The Taiwanese-based company is renowned for creating some of the best PSUs and AIOs to date, and Enermax has done it again with the Aquafusion 120 AIO. Let’s take a closer look at this Best 120mm AIO.

Enermax is using an aluminum radiator that utilizes meticulously designed channels put together with thin aluminum fins resulting in a higher heat exchange capacity. The radiator is paired with a cold plate built from copper where the Enermax Aquafusion 120 uses a ceramic pump bearing for enhanced heat dissipation whilst reducing noise levels and increasing longevity as Enermax rates the pump’s MTTF (Mean-time-to-failure) at a decent 50,000 hours, which should comfortably net you 6-9 years of functionality, if not more, without any serious issues. The pump’s maximum voltage and current uptake are rated at 12V and 0.7A, respectively, making for an efficient operation.

Regarding the waterblock, Enermax has implemented a proprietary dual-chamber design which is also patented by Enermax. It combines a CCI (Central Coolant Inlet) structure with an SCT (Shunt-Channel Technology) on the cold plate, both of which ultimately allow the Aquafusion 120mm AIO to inject coolant at the hottest areas of the CPU to minimize the impact of heat surges. The specialized design also helps shorten the coolant flow path, resulting in increased heat dissipation, up to 30% higher.

Much to the satisfaction of our RGB palate, the improvised waterblock is complete with a 3D Layer Design utilizing Enermax’s ‘Aurabelt,’ which can display a unique rainbow effect alongside the usual suite of 16.8 million colors. When paired with the exclusive white design, the Enermax Aquafusion 120 stands out from the variety of 120mm AIO units currently available in the market.

Complementing the sophisticated design is Enermax’s extensive support for all major RGB software ecosystems (via 3-pin RGB), including ASUS Aura Sync, Razer Chroma RGB, Gigabyte RGB Fusion 2.0, ASRock Polychrome Sync, MSI Mystic Light Sync and Enermax’s proprietary addressable RGB software as well. Don’t have an aRGB header on your motherboard? Nothing to fret over, Enermax has you covered with their own RGB control box, which allows users to choose between 10 preset lighting effects, brightness, and speed.

Enermax has incorporated one of its 120mm SquA RGB fans which feature a square-shaped addressable RGB appearance coupled with a reinforced vortex frame design. Thanks to the vortex frame design, the Enermax Aquafusion 120’s fan can generate concentrated airflow up to a maximum of 79.8 CFM, which is unparalleled for an AIO of such a small size. The enlarged blade surface contributes to the high airflow (which is 40% higher on average than traditional round-shaped fans).

As outlined in the previous portion, the fan is RGB-capable, of course, and PWM, meaning your motherboard can automatically control the fan speed between a range of 500-2000 RPM depending upon your use-case scenario. Under full load, temperatures may cross the 80C threshold, but this is to be expected since the 120mm size is the Aquafusion 120’s limiting factor in terms of performance. Nevertheless, the Aquafusion 120 performs handsomely for a cooler of its category, allowing slight overclocking clearance while maintaining a maximum sound profile of 32.6 dBA as far as the SquA fan is concerned. To our delight, Enermax rates the fan MTTF at more than 100,000 hours which is terrific news for users concerned about longevity.

Making up for the few minor quirks it presents, the Enermax Aquafusion 120 is compatible with just about all the recent CPUs from the likes of Intel and AMD released in the past several years. Moving onwards to the installation procedure, Enermax has made it slightly tricky, thanks to the abnormally thick tubing. You may need to strategically position on either side of the glossy acrylic waterblock depending upon the respective clearance your motherboard offers in both those areas. Finally, Enermax backs up the Aquafusion 120 with a 5-year warranty, giving potential buyers peace of mind regarding durability.

The Enermax Aquafusion 120mm AIO has a lot going for it, including, but not limited to, the one-of-a-kind white design utilizing built-in RGB lighting and specialized dual-chamber design with CCI and SCT for much higher heat exchange. Paired with the SquA RGB fan and its reinvigorated vortex frame design, the Aquafusion 120 is a behemoth in terms of airflow circulation contributing to a satisfactory cooling experience with slight room for CPU overclocking, although be wary, temperatures might cross a dangerous threshold, as stated before. Even so, the Aquafusion 120mm AIO resides amongst some of the reasonably silent 120mm AIOs.

We’re thankful for the 400mm tubing as well since that enables users to install the Aquafusion 120 in just about any PC chassis, though it’s worth noting the Aquafusion 120 is best suited to Mini-ITX based systems. Nearing our conclusion, Enermax manages to cater to a wide variety of CPU sockets, rounding off the whole package with a reputable 5-year warranty and unmatched MTTFs.

Let’s put all the positive aspects of the Aquafusion 120mm AIO aside for a few moments. We feel Enermax could’ve slimmed down the tubing a notch since it would contribute to a more user-intuitive installation experience. Adding on, the Enermax SquA RGB fan design and the Aurabelt with its 3D layer design may not appeal to everyone aesthetically speaking since, for better or for worse, the Aquafusion 120mm AIO sits in its own class in terms of looks.

Another minor qualm we have with the Aquafusion 120 is that users may find it slightly expensive compared to better-performing 120mm AIOs. That being said, the chances are you’d be buying the Enermax Aquafusion 120mm AIO mainly for its design and RGB capabilities and then for its actual cooling performance, so this shouldn’t be a deal-breaker, considering white AIOs are generally hard to come by as it is.

Are you feeling the need to spice up your gaming PC’s aesthetics? Or perhaps, you’re just looking for the best white AIO on the market? Well, we’re happy to inform you that the hunt is over.

Hoping you don’t find the installation process exhausting and the general design of the AIO itself somewhat quirky, you’ll be good to go with the Aquafusion 120. Offering what may be subjectively classified as the classiest White 120mm AIO, revamped with improved cooling performance, playful RGB capabilities and extensive compatibility, we hope you’re thinking along the same lines as us. All in all, we formally bestow the Enermax Aquafusion 120 with the Best White 120mm AIO Liquid Cooler award.

EVGA, better known for producing some of the most high-performance PSUs and GPUs, is now breaking into the AIO cooling niche with itsEVGA CLC lineup of AIO coolers. EVGA seems to have found the recipe for perfection since their CLC AIOs are flying off the shelves, in particular, the EVGA CLC 240 and the CLC 280. However, we’ll be taking a closer look at theEVGA CLC 120mm AIO for this portion of the article.

Beginning with the construction of the EVGA CLC 120, a copper cold plate with high microfin density is in play here. Thanks to the densely packed microfins, the surface area for cooling is increased, meaning that water can pass at a higher pressure through them, improving cooling performance.

Secondly, EVGA is using an Asetek Gen 5 Pump which admittedly does seem very outdated by today’s standards since mainstream AIOs nowadays are using Asetek Gen 7 pumps with improved performance and reduced noise. Nevertheless, EVGA has implemented a foam damper within the pump housing to reduce noise, along with a diffuser plate for evenly distributing the backlighting of the RGB LEDs. Yes, the pump plate has an EVGA logo which is illuminated with RGB effects and is user-controllable as well. To our delight, EVGA permits user profile storage on the device, meaning you could tweak the RGB LEDs as desired and then disconnect the cable; the lights would still stay the same on the pump plate.

As we inspect the EVGA CLC 120mm AIO in deeper detail, we find that the pump’s inner PCB resembles an Asetek design from start to finish. The pump also houses the standard impeller comprising a three-finned electromagnet used by many other mainstream 120mm AIOs.

Are you running an EVGA GPU? You’re in luck because EVGA has enabled you to sync the CLC 120’s RGB with your EVGA GPU as well. Sadly, the pump speed is not manually tweakable, which is a significant opportunity missed.

If we talk about the fan, there’s an ordinary 120mm EVGA fan on display here, nothing too crazy in terms of bells and whistles. The fan isn’t RGB capable as well, which might be slightly disappointing for the lighting enthusiasts in our audience. However, the fan blades are partially exposed, raising longevity concerns.

The fan, situated on top of the aluminum radiator, spins at a maximum speed of 1800 RPM, although we have seen instances where it may reach a staggering 2500 RPM. Whether that’s the case or not, one thing’s for sure; the EVGA CLC 120mm AIO operates at an unbearable sound level when pushed to full speed. Don’t be surprised if you extract a noise output as high as 53.9 dBA because that seems typical for the EVGA CLC 120. It’s noisy no matter what speed you run it at, but excruciating at maximum speed.

Speaking of coolant, EVGA has used the standard mixture of propylene glycol, which has a high heat capacity to delay temperature surges. Asides from that, the copper cold plate comes with ‘Shin Etsu’ thermal paste pre-applied. Unfortunately, EVGA disappoints us again since it hasn’t included any extra thermal paste, making future reinstallations or reseating procedures impossible unless you manage to procure some thermal paste at your own expense.

Nearing the conclusion of our overview, the EVGA CLC 120 does offer compatibility with the most recent CPU releases from the past few years. It’s essential to mention that the AMD AM4 bracket wasn’t included in the earlier shipments of the CLC 120. If you do happen to have the bad luck of stumbling upon one, you’ll just need to give EVGA a call since they’ll happily provide you with a free AM4 bracket, given you provide them with proof of purchase. Complementing this is a straightforward installation process. Using the included user manual, you’ll be able to get the EVGA CLC 120mm AIO up and running within 5-10 minutes at most. EVGA completes the CLC 120 package by stamping on a 5-year warranty.

Straight off the bat, we’d like to say for ourselves that no other AIO comes close to the EVGA CLC 120 in terms of pricing. The CLC 120 undercuts even a few high-performance air coolers by up to 25%, staging itself at a very attractive price point for someone looking to purchase their first AIO or for someone who’s slightly strapped on cash.

We do have several qualms with the EVGA CLC 120, the biggest of which is the AIO’s noise profile. It’s simply intolerable at high speeds, forcing you to throttle down the fan speeds to save your ears from bleeding out. It’s as if EVGA intentionally tuned the fan to produce as much noise as possible, but that is to be expected with an AIO at such a low price.

The EVGA CLC 120mm AIO is not without its flaws. Possessing a highly irritating fan alongside an outdated pump, the speed of which isn’t manually tweakable coupled together with the absence of bundled thermal paste, the CLC 120 does drive a hard bargain.

Nonetheless, no other AIO does it quite like the CLC 120. Undercutting even some of the more expensive air coolers on the market whilst offering improved cooling performance, the CLC 120 still manages to maintain a very slim profile, ideal for use in miniature PC builds, something which can’t be said for some of the bulkier air coolers. That’s why we, at Tech4Gamers, unanimously agree that the EVGA CLC 120 is undoubtedly the Best Budget 120mm AIO Liquid CPU Cooler in 2022.

EKWB (Edward Konig Water Blocks) has long reigned as champions in the water cooling department, and now they’re returning to the AIO segment by debuting with the EK 120mm D-RGB AIO. The name of EKWB and high-performance go hand in hand, and it’s the same story here. EKWB has crafted a 120mm AIO optimized for top-notch performance, with what we think may be the most aesthetic design ever to hit a 120mm AIO. Without further delay, let’s analyze the EK 120 D-RGB in microscopic detail.

First of all, EKWB has gone ahead with an aluminum radiator incorporating diamond-cut rotary fittings for easy adjustment of the nylon-braided tubing, each of which also has an aluminum cover for added durability. Speaking of which, the tubing length is 300mm, which may potentially pose problems when installing the EK 120 in tower-sized modern PC casings. Nonetheless, the rubber tubing’s reinforced design allows them to be flexible for easier installations while being simultaneously resistant to kinks. There’s also a little cap on the side of the unit for refilling the coolant should the need arise a few years down the road. We’re much obliged for this feature, although it’s essential to note refilling the coolant will void your warranty.

Coming back to the topic, the high-grade aluminum radiator features twelve coolant channels together with a densely packed fin arrangement for top-of-the-line cooling performance. To assure maximum compatibility with even the tiniest PC cases while maintaining optimal heat dissipation, EKWB has managed to restrict the overall thickness of the radiator to only 28mm (53mm with the fan).

Moving onwards, EKWB is using a copper cold plate with a dense microfin structure. The cold plate has been paired with an SPC (Statistical Process Control) style pump, which EKWB claims to provide custom-loop grade coolant delivery whilst running silently via a PWM motor with a speed range automatically or manually configurable between 850-2600 RPM.

Moreover, the pump housing (made up of ABS plastic) has integrated addressable D-RGB LEDs, covered by a frosted opaque acrylic cover for beautiful light dispersion. Both the pump (CPU block) and the fan are compatible with all major motherboard RGB software, including ASUS Aura Sync, Gigabyte RGB Fusion, MSI Mystic Light, and ASRock Polychrome RGB. Alternatively, you may use the standalone fan controller to tweak the lighting as you desire. For the record, the pump’s cable length was measured at 50mm.

Diving into the fan blades, we see that EKWB equipped the EK 120 D-RGB with one of its EK Vardar S 120ER D-RGB fan, which is a 120mm fan, also possessing 9 built-in addressable LEDs. A 4-pin PWM cable controls the fan, meaning it can be automatically regulated by your motherboard between speeds ranging from 550-2200 RPM, along with a 3-pin 5V addressable RGB cable, which is supposed to be used for connection to the motherboard for controlling the lighting.

Furthermore, the fan produces an excellent airflow of 66.04 CFM, at a high static pressure of 2.89mm H2O, making the EK Vardar S an industrial-grade fan, optimized to cool even the beastliest processors from the likes of Intel and AMD while remaining primarily silent (with a maximum noise profile of 36.4 dBA), more so than the Wraith Prism air-cooling solution from AMD. You’ll also have no problem overclocking your CPU with the EK 120 since it offers ample clearance, provided you don’t go past the 5 GHz barrier.

For installation, the process is very easy-going, considering EKWB was kind enough to incorporate 90-degree articulating fittings at the CPU block to aid positioning of the EK-120 in the desired orientation. The RGB fan cable can be daisy-chained with the RGB cable on the CPU block itself saving you the need of buying any adapters or splitters, although it does interfere with cable management.

In addition, the EK-120 offers universal compatibility as far as Intel users are concerned. For AMD users, the EK 120 D-RGB’s manual doesn’t mention anything regarding the AM4 backplate seeing as the packaging doesn’t contain one. You can just use the original AMD backplate you received with your processor for a relatively straightforward installation. EKWB also includes some thermal paste in the packaging. Finally, EKWB rounds off the EK 120 D-RGB AIO with a 5-year international warranty, putting our longevity concerns at ease.

Adding on, the design of the EK 120 D-RGB blew us away, and we’re pretty sure it’ll make you stare at it all day long. Featuring a frosted acrylic cover with a diffuser underneath, paired with addressable LEDs, both inside the pump housing as well as 9 LEDs present on the state-of-the-art EK Vardar S fan as well.

Instead of asking what we love about the EK 120, it’ll be more time-efficient to ask us what we’re not too fond of since the EK 120 D-RGB pretty much checks off all the boxes. That being said, such monstrous performance built into the most gorgeously designed AIO unit ever comes at a price. The EK 120 will hurt your wallet, although we can’t complain much, because if there’s any 120mm AIO that deserves the price it commands, it’s the EK 120 D-RGB.

We do feel slightly sore regarding the length of the EK 120’s tubing length since it does negatively impact the chances of successful installations in medium to tower-sized PCs. That being said, EKWB does try its best to accommodate such installations with what little tubing it has through the use of the afore-mentioned diamond-cut and rotatable fittings. Cable management is another area where there is little room for improvement since two cables are coming out of the CPU block itself, one for the PWM pump and fan, one for the RGB.

The EK 120 D-RGB sports an EK Vardar S 120ER PWM fan, alongside a top-of-the-line aluminum radiator paired with an SPC style pump, complete with addressable D-RGB lighting. All of these state-of-the-art features combine together to deliver ultimate cooling performance, driving down your CPU and VRM temperatures whilst still allotting you more-than-enough clearance for overclocking should you feel adventurous.

EKWB hands over the reins by giving you the option to refill the coolant over time, backing the EK 120 up by a 5-year warranty all the same. Offering excellent compatibility with recent CPUs from Intel and AMD, put together with a straightforward installation process, you’re set to unleash monstrous performance with your CPU. It’s pertinent to mention the EK 120 D-RGB would be the perfect fit for a miniature chassis since you might encounter some trouble if you decide to utilize it in a tower-sized PC due mainly to the minimized tubing.

Here’s to hoping you find a good deal on theEK 120 D-RGB because it definitely earns a place as the top choice for the Best High-Performance 120mm AIO in 2022.

Seeing one of Thermaltake’s cooling solutions crop up on your handpicked list of the Best 120mm AIOs isn’t much of a surprise. The brand is well-known for blessing the world with some of the most creative PC casings and air coolers. Thermaltake wants to reclaim lost territory by unleashing the Thermaltake TH120 A-RGB AIO. Rocking Tt LCS (Thermaltake’s exclusive certification), the TH120 A-RGB aims to deliver enthusiast-grade cooling performance with the most premium parts in use.

Looking closer at the Thermaltake TH120 A-RGB, our hopes are slightly marred with the bland-looking 27mm thick radiator. It’s an all-black design, with no ability to refill the coolant, although you shouldn’t need that, hopefully. There’s also no branding and logo on the radiator, slightly degrading the overall appearance of the TH120 A-RGB.

Secondly, Thermaltake claims to be using a high-quality pump, rated for a maximum speed of 3300 RPM. The pump housing is made of plastic in a square design with slightly angled corners for a sleek black aesthetic. Thermaltake has embossed the TT logo in the middle of the pump block, surrounded by a circle with frosted white diffusers underneath for RGB dispersion. Annoyingly, the TH120 A-RGB uses a proprietary 3-pin cable for connecting the pump, meaning it’s not PWM, so your motherboard won’t be able to regulate the pump speed as per the required temperatures automatically.

It’s worth noting that the pump head doesn’t come with pre-applied thermal paste. Instead, Thermaltake provides you with a separate tube of thermal grease in the packaging for this very purpose, adding to the manual labour required in order to install the TH120 A-RGB.

Moving on, the contact plate is built from copper, with dimensions being identical to that of the pump head itself. As a result, regardless of the processor you choose to pair the TH120 A-RGB with, the copper cold plate should provide ample coverage for enhanced thermal dissipation.

With regards to the fan, Thermaltake has mounted one of its own TT-1225 120mm fans with the TH120 A-RGB. It manages to push out a decent 59.28 CFM worth of airflow, aided by 9 fan blades and a maximum speed of 1500 RPM, simultaneously maintaining a noise level of 28.2 dBA at the highest settings. To be fair, you may notice the TH120 A-RGB getting slightly noisy at max speeds, although the grey-coloured rubber pads on the fan’s mounting holes substantially reduce vibrations and, thus, noise.

Thermaltake has been kind enough to include two motherboard sync cables, one labelled ‘E’, aimed at usage with Asus, ASRock and MSI motherboards as those use a 4-pin design for 5V lighting headers. The other cable is labeled as ‘F’ for use with Gigabyte motherboards as those use a 3-pin design for the lighting headers. Both these braided cables have an absurdly long length of 900mm, making cable management extremely difficult, if not outright impossible.

Don’t have an A-RGB header on your motherboard? Nothing to worry about because Thermaltake has included a dedicated lighting controller with 4-speed controls and 7 preset lighting effects. The controller is powered by a braided 5V SATA cable, the length of which is 460mm. All the ARGB devices must be daisy-chained (put together in a series) and connected to the controller using the LED cable (440mm). Surprisingly, the maximum signal output for a single controller is 90 A-RGB LEDs, a number which we’re sure you’ll never exceed.

Reseating or reinstalling the Thermaltake TH120 is also quick since the design allows you to easily swap the 120mm AIO out of the mounting bracket without the need for any screws. However, Thermaltake didn’t utilize AMD’s original brackets, as is the case with many other AIOs.

Disappointingly, Thermaltake only provides a 2-year warranty on the TH120 A-RGB, raising potential concerns regarding the durability and longevity of the AIO down the road.

The Thermaltake TH120 ARGB offers a monochromatic all-black design, with addressable RGB LEDs built-in to the fan and the logo on the pump block, should you wish to breathe a bit of life into your gaming system. The TH120 ARGB offers somewhat decent performance alongside support for all major RGB software suites. Thermaltake also included a dedicated RGB controller just in case you don’t have an ARGB header on your motherboard.

Except for the fan running at full speed, the TH120 ARGB stays quiet with a maximum acclaimed sound level of 28.2 dBA. This is partly due to the rubber pads present on the mounting holes of the fan, which significantly reduce vibrations.

Unfortunately, we have quite a few issues with the Thermaltake TH120 ARGB. Firstly, we just don’t seem to get enough bang for our buck, and no matter what way we look at it, the TH120 ARGB doesn’t seem to justify the price tag it commands since it does not have much room for overclocking, eking out what may be termed as slightly mediocre performance as it is.

Last but not least, Thermaltake’s 2-year warranty is certainly not enough for a 120mm AIO at this price point. Potential buyers may be scared off due to longevity-related concerns, which, regretfully, we share as well since Thermaltake doesn’t go out of its way to assure users some peace of mind.

The Thermaltake TH120 ARGB is a confusing purchase to make. It excels in several areas, such as the simplified installation, the stealthy monochromatic appearance, the support for major RGB software alongside a dedicated RGB controller. The TH120 ARGB is definitely a beauty to behold, with a multitude of addressable RGB LEDs, with support for up to almost a hundred more.

Keeping the positive aspects of the TH120 ARGB in mind, we can’t forgive a few of its flaws, such as missing out on PWM connectors, offering aggravatingly long 3-pin cables instead. The RGB on the fan, explicitly speaking, also has room for improvement. Users should also be wary of overclocking with the TH120 ARGB since it doesn’t instill confidence performance-wise. Speaking of confidence, Thermaltake raises our suspicions by only including a 2-year warranty with the AIO.

Assuming you can digest the price of the TH120 ARGB and manage to sort out the cabling, there’s plenty of reason to purchase the Thermaltake TH120, especially if you’re in the mood for a dazzling light-show, since that’s one of the main focus points here. It’s precisely why we consider the Thermaltake TH120 ARGB to be the Best 120mm RGB AIO CPU Cooler in 2022.

BeQuiet! is recognized worldwide for offering some of the most high-performance, award-winning air coolers while maintaining a completely inaudible sound profile. Standing firm in the AIO segment as well, BeQuiet impresses again with the Silent Loop 2 120mm, and it’s safe to say they’ve instantly hit the nail right on the head. Incorporating a black radiator and fan within a 120mm AIO unit, paired with the frosted pump block giving off a grey tinge, the BeQuiet Silent Loop 2 120mm screams absolute performance and exotica. Let’s cut down on the suspense and tell you all about BeQuiet’s latest innovation.

BeQuiet! is using a superior three-chamber pump design for the Silent Loop 2 120mm. The second of its three chambers offers ample space for the coolant to evenly spread out, reducing turbulence before the coolant leaves the pump unit, therefore reducing vibrations. When combined with BeQuiet’s 6-pole 3-phase motor, the specialized pump contributes to the BeQuiet Silent Loop 2 120mm’s whisper-quiet high-performance operation.

Not stopping here, BeQuiet also added massive dampening on the insides of the pump for absorbing vibrations. The pump can run at a maximum speed of 2800 RPM with a voltage adjustable between 9V-12V. The Silent Loop 2 120mm uses a 3-pin connector for the pump, which unfortunately means the speed isn’t user-tweakable.

BeQuiet makes up for the afore-mentioned misgiving by constructing an easy-to-access refill port bundled with a bottle of coolant to ensure a long lifespan for numerous years to come.

Moving on, the Silent Loop 2 120mm’s radiator comes in at dimensions measuring 154 x 120 x 77mm. BeQuiet has graciously increased the surface area of the cold plate, which houses a thick stack of fins on one side, bearing a nickel-coated plate on the other side for optimal cooling performance.

The BeQuiet Silent Loop 2 120mm continues to impress by showing off its Silent Wings 3 120mm PWM fan. The fan can run at a max speed of 2200 RPM and can be automatically regulated by your motherboard. BeQuiet claims the entire AIO, when run at max settings, will produce a noise level of 36.4 dBA under full load. Otherwise, the fan only goes up to 28.6 dBA while providing spectacular airflow rated at 73.33 CFM.

Scrutinising the Silent Loop 2 120mm’s fan under a microscope, you’ll find 7 fan blades optimized for airflow alongside a 6-pole motor for low vibrations. The highlight of the Silent Wings 3 120mm fan is the fluid dynamic bearing being used, which BeQuiet claims will last for more than 300,000 hours, which blows all other rivals’ MTTFs out of the park. Moreover, the fan frame is designed with funnel-shaped air inlets for extremely high air pressure, enabling the BeQuiet Silent Loop 2 120mm to cool some of the most monstrous processors out there.

BeQuiet hasn’t forgotten about the RGB lovers out there. Admittedly, the fan may not support any lighting, but that doesn’t mean the Silent Loop 2 120mm can’t wow you. Sporting a frosted pump block with diffusers underneath, the Silent Loop 2 120mm uses its integrated addressable RGB LEDs for offering the full suite of 16.8M colours and various lighting modes as per your preference.

The illumination can be synced with the ARGB headers on your motherboard, but if you don’t have any, BeQuiet includes a wired ARGB remote controller, enabling you to switch between pre-set modes and lighting. The BeQuiet! logo’s white lighting may also be turned on or off at will.

Lastly, the Silent Loop 2 120mm offers best-in-class compatibility with BeQuiet ensuring support for even the sTRX4 and TR4 CPU sockets for the state-of-the-art Threadripper processors from AMD even. It’s important to note you will need to buy a separately sold mounting kit should you choose to equip the BeQuiet Silent Loop 2 120mm with such a processor. Also worth mentioning is a general advisory to avoid overclocking on the Threadripper processors since that may prove to be too much of a workload for the Silent Loop 2 120mm to handle.

BeQuiet! rounds off the Silent Loop 2 120mm with a 3-year warranty, which we aren’t fans of, by any means since we feel BeQuiet could’ve offered at least a 4 or 5-year warranty. However, the premium quality parts used in the Silent Loop 2 120mm, along with the highly durable fluid dynamic bearing, put our minds at rest since we feel safe regarding the future-proofing aspect of the AIO unit.

BeQuiet! is associated with some of the quietest cooling solutions on the planet. That’s exactly why we aren’t surprised to see the Silent Loop 2 120mm offer high-performance cooling while simultaneously maintaining an inaudible sound profile. BeQuiet’s AIO also provides you with ample clearance for overclocking to moderately great extents, provided you don’t cross the 5 GHz threshold on something like a Threadripper CPU.

Finally, we’re much obliged for the refill port since that means users will be able to quickly top off the coolant after BeQuiet’s recommended time period, i.e. 2 years of operation, using the bundled bottle of coolant. Paired with the outstanding durability of the Silent Loop 2 120mm itself, BeQuiet ensures a long lifespan. Also, thanks to the 400mm long rubber tubing, you won’t have any issues fitting the AIO in a form factor of your choice.

There’s not a lot to hate here, but the BeQuiet Silent Loop 2 120mm is tough to find, and even when you do, it’ll indeed be commanding a premium price tag. Also, BeQuiet would’ve earned a perfect five stars had they made the pump PWM-enabled for automation purposes. To conclude, BeQuiet could’ve stamped on a 4 or 5-year warranty at least instead of a slightly dissatisfactory 3-year one.

We just can’t take our eyes off the Silent Loop 2 120mm. Sporting a Silent Wings 3 fan combined with a three-chamber specialized pump design incorporating a 6-pole motor, the Silent Loop 2 120mm effortlessly cools down your CPU, even managing slightly taxing overclocking whilst remaining whisper-quiet.

By supporting the sTRX4 and TR4 CPU sockets from AMD, BeQuiet has significantly increased the target audience for which the Silent Loop 2 120mm is aimed. This indicates its outstanding performance since no other 120mm AIO can efficiently cool down a beastly processor such as a Threadripper CPU.

Nearing the end of our analysis, BeQuiet has perfected the Silent Loop 2 120mm by incorporating a refill port with an included coolant bottle in the package for topping the AIO off in the future, should the need ever arise, contributing to the longevity. When put together with the few tricks it has up its sleeve in terms of RGB; it’s evident as to why we select the BeQuiet! Silent Loop 2 120mm as the Best Quiet 120mm AIO Cooler in 2022. BeQuiet has introduced a best-seller, a feat the company has repeated time and again.

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